Di Resta’s team-mate Adrian Sutil was third-fastest, followed by McLaren’s
Sergio Perez and Nico Rosberg in his Mercedes, with Vettel sixth, 0.438secs
down.
Sauber duo Esteban Gutierrez and Nico Hulkenberg both managed to finish within
a second of Alonso, the only other drivers to do so.
As for the rest of the field, led by Toro Rosso’s Daniel Ricciardo, they were
some way off the pace, the Australian 1.5secs adrift.
Down in 14th and 15th positions were Jenson Button in his McLaren and
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. The latter has claimed pole in the last three
races and is fresh from his victory in Hungary four weeks ago, but both
British drivers were two seconds down.
Marussia’s Max Chilton was 18th and 3.4secs behind, one place ahead of Mark
Webber in his Red Bull.
First practice times:
1 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Ferrari 1min 55.198secs
2 Paul Di Resta (Gbr) Force India 1:55.224
3 Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India 1:55.373
4 Sergio Perez (Mex) McLaren 1:55.518
5 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes 1:55.614
6 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull 1:55.636
7 Esteban Gutierrez (Mex) Sauber 1:55.954
8 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Sauber 1:56.110
9 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Toro Rosso 1:56.770
10 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Williams 1:56.858
11 Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari 1:56.863
12 Pastor Maldonado (Ven) Williams 1:57.081
13 Jean-Eric Vergne (Fra) Toro Rosso 1:57.084
14 Jenson Button (Gbr) McLaren 1:57.281
15 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes 1:57.358
16 Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Caterham 1:57.821
17 Giedo van der Garde (Ned) Caterham 1:57.887
18 Max Chilton (Gbr) Marussia 1:58.600
19 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull 1:58.929
20 Jules Bianchi (Fra) Marussia 1:59.209
21 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Lotus 1:59.441
22 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Lotus 2:03.176